Logging strip printing apparatus



May 19, 1942.

F. L. MICHAELS 2,283,221 LOGGING STRIP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiqfl/ftwtfloe/s.

y 1942- F. MICHAELS 2,283,221

LOGGING STRIP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LOGGING STRIP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1938 4 Shets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

BY Pan/f. L M/c/me/J.

Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,283,221 LOGGING STRIP PRINTING APPARATUS Frank L. Michaels, Fort Thomas, Ky. Application May 26, 1938, Serial No. 210,244

8 Claims.

This application is a divisional and continuing application of my copending application Serial No. 4,111, filed January 30, 1935. r

The present invention relates to improvements in the art of logging oil wells and of making other records of a kindred nature and has for an object the provision of means whereby to materially reduce the time and tedious effort required in producing logs or records of drilling and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and record strips therefor that are adapted for the simultaneous duplication of records of this nature.

Another object is to provide apparatus operable after the fashion oftypewriters and simillar writing machines whereby a plurality of separate logs or record strips are adapted to be fed uniformly and have printed on corresponding portions thereof the usual markings and data required for such records.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. l is a sectional view of the apparatus of the invention taken on line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1-.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device, part broken away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental isometric view of a ribbon holder and guide forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic keyboard lay-out for the device of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of a device of the invention.

Heretofore it has long been required that records of the different strata of earth formation evidenced at any site of drilling be accurately and carefully recorded, one record at least being submitted for the information of governmental geological surveys, and amongst larger oil drilling companies, several copies of this record are required for company records. These records are customarily in the form of elongated narrow strips of paper or the like, hearing on a reduced scale a graphic indication of the depth below surface in hundreds of feet and usually subdivided into tens of feet. The thicknesses of the different strata penetrated by the drill are recorded by the drillers, and upon completion of a well, the elongated log strip is prepared, indicating the relative thickness of each stratum with different colored crayons, pencils or the like and marking opposite the same a symbol indicating the geological name of the stratum or the character of the formation drilled. Oil bearing sands, water, gas, etc., are recorded for the various reasons well known to those conversant with the art. Characteristically these different markings are made with any one of seven or more different colors and in an accurately made log where the scale is one hundred feet to the inch, it is customary to make these colored lines as thin as one one-hundredth of an inch i representing one foot on a scale up to one-tenth of an inch representing ten feet on a scale. It is therefore a most fatiguing and painstakingly tedious task to make two or more logs of the same drilling representing in some cases ten thousand foot depths. The frequent exchanging and selecting ofdiilerent colored pencils as well as the tediousness of accurately blocking oil a small portion of the column representing depth consumes a large amount of time. In order to at once minimize the time for making up one of these logging strips and to at the same time provide for the making of an exact duplicate thereof is the primary objective of this invention. To this end means are provided to hold a plurality of logging strips in oifset relation so as, to, expose on each the columns ging strips in duplicate but it will adapted to receive the color spaces and the columns adapted to receive the legend abbreviations commonly employed on the logging strips. The logging strips and machine herein illustrated and hereinafter described are adapted for making the logbe understood that it is possible by following the teachings of this invention to arrange the strips and alter the machine so that three or more may be made at once. The printable logging strips are made somewhat according to heretofore followed practice, namely, the provision of a longitudinally extending scale set adjacent a narrow blank margin, these strips bearing any suitable heading with customary spaces for data pertaining to the operation. In the present invention, however, the strip has longitudinally spaced perforations arranged in parallel rows, the number of rows corresponding to the number to be made at one time (in this instance, two). By overlapping two of these strips so that the first row of perforations on the upper strips coincides with the second row of perforations on the strip beneath, the strips will then present adjacent free marginal areas in perfect longitudinal registry. The machine has separate logging strip guides for each strip and a single feed rollof logging strips both strips: The type bars er with teeth or pins in the periphery thereof which pass through the registering perforations and thereby retains the sheets in the desired overlapping position throughout the printing operation thereon. The machine is provided with type bars, operable after a general fashion in the manner of typewriter type, with the characters thereon in duplicate and in spaced relation such that when a bar bon over the exposed marginal areas, the identical symbol will be printed in the same corresponding place in the corresponding margins of and type for printing the colored lines of varying thicknesses are preferably four in number and have varying thicknesses corresponding respectively to onetenth, one-twentieth, one-fiftieth, and one-hundredth of an inch, thereby enabling the operator by theproper selection of keys to print a line of the desired color of any of these thicknesses. These striking faces are likewise arranged in du-, plicate and spaced to strike in the proper columns, these-four keys being staggered relative to the remainder of the symbol printing keys. The machine is arranged so that the depression of a selected key will condition the logging strip feed to advance the strips longitudinally by an amount equal to the thickness of the line printed by the machine so that the next successive stroke will be added immediately onto the preceding one. If the operator wishes to indicate 100 feet of uniform strata, he would strike the key bearing the thickest line, i. e., one-tenth of aninch, ten successive times and would thereby block out one inch of the column in solid color whereupon the machine and strips would be in position to condition the next printing stroke of whatsoever thickness selected as an accurate and immediate addition to the previously printed block. The printing ribbon for the machine is arranged with a given series of, for example, eight, diflerently colored adjacent transverse sections repeated throughout the length of the ribbon. Means are provided to quickly and manually reel such ribbon back Or forth to bring a desired color in position for printing. A ribbon guide, clamping, and shifting means is provided for automatic releasing, clamping and shifting to and from the field of operation by thenormal operation of the machine so that the operator in making up the logging" strips merely places his record sheet before him, manipulates the ribbon for selection of colors with the left hand, and strikes the desired keys with the right hand.

With this device it is possible for an operator of ordinary intelligence and skill, to complete two identical accurate logging strips in a matter of fifteen minutes or so whereas, with the presently pursued methods, such a task might consume a large portion of a day. The element of fatigue which is considerable in present methods is completely eliminated by the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises an automatic spacing means under the control of the operating keys, a means to automatically advance a pair of logging strips under the control of said spacing means, a ribbon guide, lock andshifter mechanism also controlled by the operation of the operating key mechanism and a manually controlled ribbon color selector reel mechanism. The automatic spacing feed is is depressed against a rib-' The machine comprises a base III, a removable housing cover ll apertured at the forward end as shown at l2 to expose the paper holding and feed mechanism which is conveniently mounted as a unit having its base l3 secured in any suitable manner to the forward end of base Ill. The feed and spacing mechanism comprises a pair of uprights 14 mounted on base I!) and carrying between them a shaft I! on which is rockably mounted an open rectangular counter-weighted pawl-carrying frame having the spaced side members ii. A pawl I1 is pivoted on a suitable rod or axle between the frame members It. The rockable frame It is normally retained in a horizontal or zero position by springs l8 which yield when the frame is depressed by the operating keys and allow the pawl H to be raised according to the predetermined depth of the key stroke. Rotat'ably mounted upon shaft 15 is a toothed wheel IS with which the pawl cooperates on the return of the frame under the force of spring l8. Toothed wheel I9 is fixed on shaft I! which also has a bevel gear fixed on one end thereof meshing with a bevel gear 2| on a longitudinally extending shaft 22. Shaft 22 effects a driving connection between toothed pawl l9 and the mechanism whereby the paper feed is controlled. This is eflected through a pinion 23 on shaft 22 meshing with an idler 24 which in turn meshes with pinion 25 that is bodily shiftable in the direction of its axis by means of a manually depressible shaft 26. The clutch pinion 25 normally meshes with toothed wheel 21 which is fixed on the shaft with feed roll 28. Upon depressing shaft 26 with the exposed finger piece, pinion 25 'is shifted longitudinally out of mesh with wheel 21 thereby permitting manual rotation of the feed roll 28 by means of knob 29. This de-clutching operation is utilized in initially positioning the logging strips in the machine. The peripheral pins 20 on feed roll 23 are adapted to enter the registering perforations 3| in the overlapping pair of logging strips 32 and 33. An

wpposed'pair of strip guides 34-34 receive the adapted to be de-clutched to provide for manual shifting of the logging strips if and when neces- 'xsary.

lower logging strip 32. A second pair of logging strip guides 35-35 receive the upper logging strip 33 and are in offset relation to the guides 34--34 so that the outermost longitudinal row of perforations 3| in the upper logging strips will register with the innermost lower logging strip. This means in conjunction with the pins on the feed roll 28 'serves to hold the logging strips against relative lateral and longitudinal shift and also enable the shifting 'in unison according to the amount of movement imparted to the feed roll through the gear train and feed shaft just described.

The operating keys and the keyboard are conveniently arranged in a group that is readily controllable with the fingers of one hand. The operating key-bars 36 and 31 and 38 may be conveniently arranged in three rows above the casing II which is conveniently bulged or ridged as at 39 to form a hand rest just iorwardly'thereof.

There are four of these keys, preferably grouped near the center of the keyboard and representing the different line thicknesses that are printable with the machine. A total of about thirteen additional keys bearing abbreviated symbols customarily used are deemed suflicient for all other printing necessary for the making up of logging strips. The key bars 40 are arranged in an arc and are guided through a slotted guide bar H which is a projection of an anchor standard," to which the springs 43 are connected at one end.

Springs 43 are provided one for each key-bar 40. The vertical portions of the key-bars 40 are adapted respectively to strike the arcuate forward cross member 44 comprising part'of-the rockable frame l5. From inspection of Fig. 3 it 5 will be appreciated that the ends of the vertical key-bars will normally strike the top face 45 of the member 44 so that all save three of the keys will depress the rocking frame a uniform distance. thus moving the pawl I1 correspondingly 0 for subsequent feed of feed roll 28. All of the symbol keys strike and one of the line forming keys strikes on this common level. The member 44 has offsets 46, 41, and 48 cut therein to different depths and three of the key-bars, namely, 400, 4M, and 402, are adapted to be correspondingly depressed before imparting any movement to the rocking frame and thus advance the pawl IT by correspondingly-lesser amounts. The key 402 is thus arranged to cause the rocking frame to impart Man of an inch feed after printing a colored line of corresponding thickness. The key 40l imparts a slightly greater movement representing ,3 of an inch feed. The key imparts a greater movement, namely, 1 of an inch, while the key 403 which strikes on the top surface 45 imparts a feed of A of an inch.

Each key-bar has a pivoted latch 49 thereonwhich cooperates with a serrated rack 50 to preclude rise of the key under the influence of spring 43 until it has been completely depressed and has thereby released the latch from the rack. A boss 49! on the latch is caused to frictionally engage the side of bar 40, to which the latch is pivotally attached at 490, whenever finger 492 of the latch engages the rocking frame at the end of a down stroke. The latch 49 is thus held free of rack 50 during the return stroke of the bar. The-finger 492 strikes-against the bottom of rack 50 at the end of the return stroke thus releasing the frictional engagement of the latch and freeing it to again cooperate with rack 50. Through the agency of this mechanism, it is impossible for the operator to accidentally impart some unintended partial feed to the device without marking 45 the logging strips. The type bars 5| are pivoted on a rod 52 in an arcuate slotted support 53 and are adapted to be moved about their pivots by the corresponding key bars through the agency of the slotted extensions 54 engaging pins 55 on the type bars. The type 55 are transversely slotted as at 56 so that uniform faces 5! occur on opposite sides thereof, these faces bearing the type symbols or being blank and of graduated thicknesses as hereinbefore described. The slots 56 in the color line marking type are arranged to span the intervening column in which the symbols are printed on the outer logging strip. The corresponding slots in the symbol type span the column in which the lines are color-printed on the innermost logging strip.

As will be noted in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 a pair of ribbon carrying reels 58 and 59 are provided at the forward end of the machine, said reels being operable by handle knobs 60. The ribbon 6| is of unique style in that it contains .successive transverse areas of blue, green, red, black, yellow, etc., between adjacent blocks of which are uninked spaces 62. It will be noted, particularly in Fig. 2, that the ribbon normally extends between the reels and is disposed forwardly of the field of printing operation of the type bars on the platen and feed roll 28. The ribbon passes through a pair of spaced wire loop members 63 carried by a pivoted ribbon holder and shifter asmembers liiiabove shaft 66 so that movement of members 54 will rock the ribbon holder and shifter forwardly and produce a clamping action by releasing corners X of members 64 from the pressure of member 61. The spring 68 connects the bottom of member 64 and the lateral bar 69 between sides and near the top of member 65 and effects a clamping action on the ribbon which is thus shifted in the plane of its width over into the field of the printing type. When the key is released, spring 10 rocks the ribbon shifter back to its initial position and releases the clamping action on the ribbon. Member 65 is apertured to receive the hub of handle 29.

As can be best seen in Fig. 4, spring urged arms II carrying rollers 12 on the free ends thereof retain the paper logging strips smoothly on the platen or feed roll 28.

The operation of the device is as follows. To insert the logging strip into'the machine, the le'vers H are first raised clear of the platen and feed roll 28 whereupon one of the logging strips 32 is inserted between the guides 34 and a second logging strip 33 is inserted between guides 35. The leading ends of the strip are then manually brought into registry whereupon it will be found that the outermost row of perforations 3| in the upper logging strip 33 will be found in registry with the innermost row of perforations in the lower logging strip 32. The pins 30 are now entered into the registering perforations 3| in the heading portion of the logging strips whereupon the roller carrying levers II are dropped into position onto the strips. The machine is now ready for operation. The operator desiring to indicate a given thickness in the color columns I3 would strike one of the keys marked I, 2, 5, or ID, in Fig. 6, whereupon the corresponding type bar would descend and the blank type faces of "corresponding thicknesses would be printed through the selected color on the ribbon onto the said margins. The downward movement of the key-bar would rock the frame l6 thereby lifting the pawl a given number of teeth over the toothed wheel l9 while the type bar in descending would also actuate the mechanism for clamping the ribbon and shifting it over the field of printing operation. When the key-bar is released, the spring l8 returns the rocking frame to initial position and the pawl thereon engaging toothed wheel l9 advances the toothed wheel clockwise a corresponding amount. This operation is repeated with the same or other keys, thereby progressively filling the color of strata column with successive contiguous marks, the

- following feed of the logging strips always corresponding to the degree of rocking that was imparted to the frame I6 by the particular key depressed. The selection of color on the ribbon is effected by manual turning of knobs 60 until the desired block of colored ribbon is in position in the aperture in the ribbon holder and shifter.

The production of logging strips may be carried on as rapidly as the operator is able to read the data supplied for the preparation thereof.

. Any manner of elongated strips for other recrd or graph or logging purposes that is practicably adapted for longitudinally successive marking may be ma'de'on machines of the type,

- dered taut when the keys are not depressed thus permitting positive selection of the color sections on the ribbon by manipulating either of the ribbon pulley knobs or handles. Referring now specifically to Fig. 'I, the base I is supported upon suitable legs I8 to elevate it, thereby allowing for the disposition of the automatic ribbon tightener assembly beneath the base. A sheet metal shell 11 is removably secured to the underside of the base for housing the said ribbon tightener. The rocking frame 19 is mounted for movement on shaft 88 which has fixed thereto the ratchet wheel 8| and also the necessary bevel pinion 82 which serves to drive a platen actuating shaft and gear train which is identical with the disclosure in Fig. 2 and which therefore requires no further illustration or description. Spring urged pawl 83 on frame 19 cooperates with toothed wheel 8| in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6. A curved and counter-weighted stop pawl 84 has a short toothed segment at the top thereof and the bottom of frame I9 has a complementary notch 88 which receives the top of the toothed portion 85 and positively seats the tooth in the notches of the toothed wheel 8|. When the frame 19 is tilted to other than a horizontal position, the curved arm 84 is yieidabiy urged to seat its toothed portion against the wheel by the counter-weight. When the frame reaches a horizontal position, the arm 84 is positively locked.

The arrangement of operating key bars is generally very similar to the previously described arrangement, the difference in structure being found below the slotted guide bar 81 which corresponds to the member 4| in Fig. 1. A suitable number of operating key bars 88 are provided and they extend vertically downwardly as uniform straight strips. Each bar 88 has fixed thereto a member 89 which serves to operate a type bar 98 through suitable linkage and which also cooperates with an upstanding flange on a spring raised pivotally mounted plate 8|. The rocking of the plate functions to manipulate the ribbon holder and guide 92 through the arms 93 and 94 and connection link 95. The ribbon holder and guide are substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 5 and need not be further detailed.

On the key bars actuated by the keys 488, 48I, 482, and 483, (of Fig. 6) are fingers 98 which engage the rocking frame I9 when the corresponding keys are depressed. The several fingers are set at different elevations corresponding to the degree of tilting to be imparted to the frame by the operation of the keys. The fingers 98 each have downwardly extending wedge-like portions which serve to move pivoted limit stops 91 from a position clear of the frame I9 to a position wherein the frame is stopped at the selected downward limit of movement. By this arrangement, the pawl 83 is raised for a definite distance corresponding to the selected key and on the return movement of the frame the wheel 8| can be turned positively for the predetermined number of teeth after which the toothed wheel is positively located by the seating of the rocking frame on the pawl arm 84. The movement of the toothed wheel will be understood to advance the'paper feeding platen roll in the manner hereinbefore fully described.

The pivoted limit stops 91 are returned by springs 98 when the bars 88 are released to be raised by springs 99.

The ribbon tightener mechanism comprises a heavy loose roll I88 mounted for rotation and limited axial shifting on a rod I8I which has a loose connection on a guide I82 that is fixed to the bottom of the base. A bar I83 is pivoted intermediate its ends at I84 upon a depending fork I85 and carries at its forward end a semicylindrical yoke I89 which may embrace the loose roll I88 and lift the same bodily for the purpose ofrendering the printing ribbon entirely loose and free. The bar I83 is actuated whenever plate 9| is depressed by any of the keys, the connection between the plate and said bar being constituted by a link I81.

It will be readily understood that as soon as the ribbon holder and guide begin to move toward the platen roll 9, plate 9| is depressed through the operation of a key, the ribbon holder tightly clamps the connected color panel of the ribbon. The bar I83 is forthwith moved about its pivotal mounting and begins to lift the roll I88 immediately after the ribbon has been clamped by the holder 92. The loosening of the ribbon tension readily permits the clamp section of the ribbon to be swung and to be disposed over the platen where the type bar strikes the ribbon to imprint the logging strips. When 'the key is released and returns to elevated position, the ribbon is again tightened about its pulley guides by the descent of roller I88 and the return of the ribbon and holder 92 releases the clamping action on the ribbon and permits the ribbon pulleys to be manually rotated by means of the knob I88. An angularly inclined freely turning roller I89 is provided adjacent each of the ribbon pulleys 58 and 59 so that the endless printing ribbon passes about the bottom of roller I88 thence over the tops of rolls I89 thence below the members'58 and 59 and around over the tops thereof and through the ribbon guide. The operation of turning the log strips of the machine of the invention will be understood to be as previously described herein.

The primary advantages in the form of device as shown in Fig.7 resides in the provision of the positive action which enables the machine to be operated with a heavier and rougher touch without danger of rebound of the parts causing overriding movement of the parts.

What is claimed is:

1. In a key operated printing machine for a logging strip the combination of v a rotatable platen adapted to support a strip, a plurality of type-bars having blank type faces of different thicknesses adapted to strike the strip on said platen, a rocking frame, key bars yicldably depressible to actuate the respective type bars and simultaneously adapted to rock said frame varying distances proportional to the thickness of the associated type faces on associated ty e bars, means returning said frame to a predetermined starting position, a pawl on the rocking frame, a toothed wheel movable by said pawl and frame, means transmitting rotation to the platen from said toothed wheel, and a printing ribbon a holder therefor actuatable by depression of the key bars for moving the ribbon over the strip and platen in advance of the type bar.

2. In a key operated printing machine for a logging strip, the combination of a platen and feedroll adapted to support such a strip, a plurality of type bars having blank type faces of different thicknesses adapted to strike the strip on said platen, key bars to actuate said type bars, and platen rotating mechanism mechanically conditionable by type bar actuating movement of the several keybars to effect advancement of the strip lengthwise exactly equal to the thickness of the type face.

3. In a log strip printing machine the combination of a rocking frame, a pawl carried thereby, key means for rocking said frame varying distances, a toothed wheel, spring means adapted to effect return movement of the frame to an initial position, said pawl on said frame engaging and moving the toothed wheel on said return movement, a platen rotatable on a fixed axis and means driven by the toothed wheel for effecting unidirectional rotary movement to the platen proportional to the return movement of said frame.

4. In a log strip printing machine the combination of a rotatable platen, key operated printing means arranged to imprint a strip on said platen, said printing means being of selected different efiective printing thicknesses, a spring returned rocking frame said frame being in part cut away to different depths, said several key operated means engaging aid frame at said different depths whereby predetermined degrees of movement are imparted to said frame, a pawl mounted on said rocking frame and means comprising a toothed wheel operable by the pawl upon return movement of the frame and transmission means operable by said wheel for turning the platen for advancing the strip a distance equal to the thickness of the impression made by the printing means on said strips.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of means to feed elongated perforated strips longitudinally in a laterally overlapping condition whereby an edge margin of each is exposed, printing type bars having duplicate spaced printing faces, a printing ribbon disposable over the exposed margins of said strips and adapted to be struck by said printing faces to effect uniform impressions on the margin of each strip, and means to effect predetermined feed movement of said strip feeding means.

6. In a duplicate log strip printing device the combination of means to hold a pair of log strips in overlapping superposed relation whereby uniform parallel margins are exposed, a platen and feed means for said. strips, type bars having spaced duplicate printing faces for imprinting corresponding marginal portions of said strips, and means conditionable with the actuation of said type bars for automatically moving said platen and feed means to longitudinall shift said strips for subsequent printing in non-overlapping lineal continuity with previous impressions on said strips.

7. A key operated printing machine for logging strips comprising a platen roll arranged to position and feed logging strips, type bars having faces of different thicknesses for striking the strips on said platen, a rocking frame, key bars for said type bars, each key bar adapted to engage and rock the frame for a distance proportional to the thickness of its associated type bar face, means returning the. rocking frame to a predetermined starting position, a toothed wheel, a pawl on the rocking frame for moving said wheel on the return movement of the frame, pivoted means of various lengths actuated by the depression of the key bars into the path of movement of the rocking frame to serve as predetermined different positive limit stops for the rocking frame during depression of the keys, and means connecting the toothed wheel and platen to advance the platen as'the toothed wheel is actuated by the pawl during return movement of said frame..

8. In a platen feed for log strip printing machines the combination of a rocking frame, key bars each having a projection for engaging on and tilting the rocking frame as said bars are depressed, a toothed wheel, a pawl on the frame for turning the wheel during return movement of the frame, a yieldably mounted holding pawl engaging the wheel, said pawl being positively retained against the wheel by said frame when the frame is in non-tilted position, and an independent means associated with each of said key bars and actuated upon depression of said respective bars to a position forming a predetermined positive limit to the rocking movement of the frame under the influence of the selected key bar.

FRANK L. MICHAELS. 

